Overview

• An umbrella review of 80 systematic studies shows exercise reduces cancer treatment side effects, including cardiac toxicity, neuropathy, and cognitive impairment.
• Exercise improves psychological well-being, sleep quality, and social functionality, significantly enhancing overall quality of life for cancer patients.
• Specific modalities like HIIT, yoga, and tai chi deliver targeted benefits, including alleviating fatigue, anxiety, and pain, and boosting strength and aerobic capacity.
• Preoperative exercise is linked to reduced postoperative complications, shorter hospital stays, and lower mortality risk, reinforcing its role in surgical preparation.
• Experts and organizations like Cancer Research UK are advocating for formal exercise prescriptions in oncology care, alongside further research to refine tailored regimens.